Mayor Seeks To Ban Same-Sex Couples From Kissing In Public

The mayor of the Italian municipality of Borgosesia is seeking to ban public kissing between members of the same sex, calling the behavior “morally harmful.” Under the proposed measure, couples could be fined up to 500 euros ($680 USD) for engaging in the act.

“Kissing in public between homosexuals? No thanks,” Gianluca Buonanno told Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Huffington Post reported. “I don’t like two people of the same sex making public displays of affection. It’s a question of respect. And I’m convinced that it’s also morally harmful for children.”

Some members of the European Parliament quickly dismissed Borgosesia’s effort, however. The “new decree is just the latest, pathetic publicity stunt by a narrow-minded man who desperately wants to be in the spotlight,” European Parliament member Daniele Viotti told Pink News, and claimed that Buonanno is giving “a voice to all the worst values that, unfortunately, are still circulating in Europe.” “It would be an interesting psychological exercise to ask why Mr. Buonanno is so obsessed with homosexuality,” Viotti added.

Though most Italians support civil unions for same-sex couples, the Italian government does not recognize their legitimacy. The Italian Senate is expected to debate the issue in September.